By Karen Noble,
Professional Learning Coordinator,
Asia Education Foundation
In the true ethos of global citizenship, the Queensland Department of Education (QLD DoE), led by Jacinta Webb (Director, Global Engagement) and Meredene Hill (Manager, Global Engagement), supported and co-facilitated an inspiring and informative immersion visit to Queensland.
Participants of AEF’s Growing Global Citizens (GGC) professional learning course, commissioned and funded by the South Australian Department for Education (SA DfE), flew to the sunshine state to experience Queensland’s work on Global Competence in schools.
In preparation for the visit, South Australian school leaders and educators initially engaged with Queensland changemakers through their involvement in the Queensland Department of Education International 2022 Conference: Leading for Global Futures.
Alongside the highly engaging keynote speakers and presentations, participants could access the consultation draft of the Global Competence Framework, the culmination of a two-year Global Competence Pilot program in Queensland schools and underpinned by researchers Dr Karena Menzies-Ballantyne and Dr Miriam Ham from Central Queensland University (CQU).
A series of interactive workshops further teased out essential understanding and learnings in implementing global competency education gained from the conference, alongside school visits and presentations from Queensland school leaders.
Workshops unpacking the Global Competence Pilot Program and providing the context for global competence in Queensland state schools were facilitated by; Jacinta Webb, Director Global Engagement @QDoE, Meredene Hill, Manager Global Engagement @QDoE, Dr Karena Menzie-Ballantyne CQU, Dr Miriam Ham CQU and Chantelle Kohn, @ The Change Collab.
The interactive sessions provided SA educators a window into the systemic change process necessary to unlock global citizenship education's potential.
Highly informative and practical sessions from Joel Buchholz, Executive Principal, Pimlico State High School and Pamela Curtin, Head of Curriculum, Aurukun Secondary School, invited us to follow along their journey of discovery, see firsthand the impact of global competency education on students (and teacher) empowerment, well-being and learning as well as understanding some of the challenges, barriers and lessons learned along the way.
In tandem with the workshops, immersion visitors were fortunate to visit some of the participating schools in the pilot program leading the way in implementing global competency education.
We are incredibly grateful to the leaders, teachers and students from Indooroopilly State High School, Calamvale Community College, Kelvin Grove State College, Corinda State High School and Yeronga State High School. They generously shared their vision, process and impact with us.
A culminating highlight of the visit was the networking dinner attended by Queensland and South Australian educators at Royal on the Park.
The room was buzzing, the enthusiasm overflowing, all an indicator of the power generated when passionate educators are in the same room and on the same page! An outstanding experience for all.